The biggest mistake most people make about Avios is thinking you can only earn them by flying. The truth is you can accumulate thousands of points every month doing exactly what you already do: shopping online, paying your grocery bill, booking hotels or taking out insurance.
With an annual spend of between £8,000 and £12,000 — perfectly achievable if you channel your purchases well — you can earn enough Avios for a return Business Class flight within Europe completely free. You don’t need to be a frequent flyer. You just need to know where to shop.
In this guide I’ll walk you through every way to earn Avios, from easiest to most advanced.
What are Avios?
Avios are the points currency of the OneWorld alliance, which includes British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, Qatar Airways and Finnair, among others.
Imagine that every time you buy something online — clothes, tech, a hotel, travel insurance — you received a little bonus towards flights. That’s Avios: the loyalty points you can earn through your everyday purchases, at no extra cost.
The best part? You can use those points for free flights — or nearly free, just paying the taxes — on British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Qatar Airways and other airlines in the group. No premium credit cards required, no constant travelling. Just shopping where you already shop, but smarter.
1. Online shopping: the easiest and most underrated way
This is the method that can earn you the most Avios without changing your habits at all. British Airways has agreements with over 500 online retailers that give you Avios for every pound you spend with them.
The system is simple: instead of going directly to Amazon, ASOS or John Lewis, you first visit the British Airways Shopping portal or use our Avios finder — updated weekly — to see how many Avios each store offers, then click through to the shop. That’s it. The rest of your purchase is exactly the same.
The stores offering the most Avios vary week to week, but generally stand out:
- Electronics and technology: typically 2–5 Avios per pound
- Fashion: between 2 and 8 Avios per pound depending on the brand
- Travel (hotels, car hire): up to 10–15 Avios per pound on some platforms
- Groceries and food: fewer points but frequent purchases
💡 Practical tip: before any online purchase, check our finder to see if that store has an Avios agreement and how many points it gives. Two minutes that could be worth hundreds of Avios.
2. Credit cards: earn on every payment
Bank cards linked to points programmes are another huge source of Avios that most people overlook. The idea is simple: use the card to pay for everything you can (groceries, petrol, restaurants, pharmacy) and accumulate points on every purchase.
British Airways American Express
The most direct card for earning Avios in the UK. It gives 1 Avios per £1 spent on everyday purchases, with a welcome bonus if you meet certain spend requirements. Best of all: the points are directly Avios, no conversion needed. The Premium Plus version gives 1.5 Avios per £1 and includes a free companion voucher each year.
Barclays Avios Mastercard
A great option if you want to earn Avios without an Amex. It gives 1 Avios per £1 spent and is accepted anywhere Mastercard is, making it a good complement to the BA Amex for places that don’t accept American Express.
💡 Practical tip: choose one card based on your goal and use it for everything. Spreading spend across multiple cards slows down accumulation. Concentrate your spending, earn faster.
3. Flights: the obvious one, done right
Yes, flying also earns Avios. But there are ways to maximise it that few people know about.
Fly with OneWorld airlines
British Airways, Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and others all belong to the OneWorld alliance. All flights with these airlines earn Avios that can be transferred between different airline accounts.
The fare matters (a lot)
Not all fares earn the same Avios. The cheapest fares (basic, hand luggage only) usually earn very few points or none at all. Flexible or business fares earn many more. Before booking, check how many Avios each fare earns. As a general rule, the more expensive the ticket, the more Avios you receive.
4. Hotels and car hire
Many hotel chains and car hire companies have agreements with airlines. Some of them include:
- NH Hotels: earn Avios directly when you book
- Meliá: through their MeliáRewards programme, with the option to transfer points
- Booking.com: shows the Avios you’ll earn with each booking when you search through their dedicated portal
- Hertz, Europcar, Avis: car hire also earns points
💡 Practical tip: always book hotels and car hire through the Avios portal or a partner store link. That way you earn on the booking AND on your credit card if you pay with one linked to points.
5. Everyday purchases: supermarket, petrol, pharmacy
This is the big secret most people miss. Everyday spending represents the largest part of any household’s annual outgoings, and almost nobody is optimising it for Avios.
- Electronics (Currys, Apple, Samsung): buy through the Avios portal and earn points
- Petrol stations: some have agreements with British Airways
- Online pharmacies: several are listed on the shopping portal
- Insurance: taking out insurance through partner comparison sites can give you thousands of Avios in one go
6. External tools and surveys
- Opinion surveys: some market research companies reward you with Avios
- Referrals: recommending the Avios app to a friend can earn you a bonus once they make their first purchase through the platform
- Avios for Thoughts: the official Avios survey programme, where you earn points by answering questions
7. Transfers between programmes
- British Airways Executive Club → Iberia Club: use the “Combine my Avios” feature to reach the minimum needed for a redemption
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club: also uses Avios and is compatible
- Bank points: American Express Membership Rewards can be converted into Avios or miles for use on airlines in other alliances
How many Avios do you need for a free flight?
| Destination | Economy Class | Business Class |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (short haul) | 4,500 – 9,000 Avios | 15,000 – 25,000 Avios |
| United States | 17,000 – 34,000 Avios | 50,000 – 68,000 Avios |
| Latin America | 20,000 – 40,000 Avios | 60,000 – 80,000 Avios |
Approximate prices in low season. Avios offer the best value on long-haul Business Class flights.
Where to start: a practical plan
- Open a British Airways Executive Club account if you don’t have one yet (it’s free)
- Check our finder and note the stores where you already shop that have an Avios agreement
- From now on, always access those stores through the Avios portal before buying
- Consider getting a points credit card to earn on everyday spending
- Check each week which stores have increased their Avios — the best opportunities are temporary
You don’t need to do everything at once. Just by changing where you click before shopping online, you can earn thousands of Avios every month without spending a penny more.
Conclusion
Avios aren’t just for frequent flyers. They’re for smart shoppers. And with the right tools — like the First Class Points finder, where you can see every week which stores give the most points and which have gone up — accumulating becomes almost automatic.
The first step is the simplest: next time you’re about to buy something online, go through the Avios portal first. That’s all it takes.
Have questions about earning Avios? Write to us at info@first-class-points.com and we’ll help.